They protested outside the offices where the Egyptian cabinet meets, to press demands for a national minimum wage of 1,200 Egyptian pounds. It has been 35 pounds since 1984, according to Reuters.
Last week Egypt’s Administrative Court ruled the government must set a minimum wage that takes soaring prices into account, but did not set a figure. Protesters say the government seldom applies the court’s rulings.
"All of Egypt’s workforce has one, unified demand, and that is raising the national minimum wage of all workers to allow them to cope with the soaring prices" Ahmed Ezzat, labour lawyer from the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights, told Reuters by telephone after the protest.
"This is the most diverse labour coalition to date, rallying white collar and blue collar workers for a national demand," Hossam Hamalawy, labour activist and blogger, told Reuters.
The government’s initial response to protests which turned violent was to meet them with heavy security, then promises of higher wages.
Source: Africa News